Ad not shown

Dreamgirls

5
Touring production seen at the Bristol Hippodrome.
By Becky - 7th Jan 2022

The Dreamgirls - Photo by Matt Crockett

Dreamgirls is the glitter bomb we all need on a damp, dark January evening. Directed by Casey Nicholaw, Dreamgirls follows the indomitable Effie White, one third of girl group the Dreamettes, as she attempts to claw her way to the big time. The girls land a gig as backing singers to R&B sensation Jimmy Early but what follows is bitter betrayal and heartache for Effie as her lover, and the group’s manager, Curtis, moves his new girlfriend Deena front and centre, leaving Effie to play back-up.

Nicole Raquel Dennis leads as Effie White, and her voice is every bit the powerhouse you want it to be. As her fellow dreamgirls, Natalie Kassanga and Paige Peddie also deliver vocally. It’s Brandon Lee Sears who stole the show for me, though, as Jimmy Early. His voice is outstanding and the energy he brings to the whole show lifts it to another level. His chemistry with Peddie feels palpable to the audience and I was sorry there wasn’t more scenes of the two of them together. His dance moves are also incredible; the man must surely practise contortion in his spare time.

Effie White is a complex character; bullish, determined but with a vulnerability to her, Dennis did a good job at portraying this on stage. I’ve never seen the show before, and assumed Effie is the one I should be rooting for but at times I found myself wanting to shake her and tell her to grow the hell up. That Dennis can get all this across and yet still deliver a softness and openness to the character is testament to her skills as an actress, and also the supporting cast who fulfil their roles with sufficient aplomb that she is able to really evolve the character on stage.

Lighting, set design and costume all combine to again elevate this production; it really does dazzle thanks to these elements. Add in the strong vocal performances, slick numbers and endearing characterisation, and Dreamgirls delivers the perfect package. Emotional, raw and fierce, yet heart-warming and joyful, Dreamgirls is definitely one to catch.

Becky Fuller


Latest News & Reviews

28th Jan 25 :: Review: If I Had You
Cast workshop presentation seen at St Paul's Church, London.
4
28th Jan 25 :: Review: Pride and Prejudice* (*Sort Of)
Touring production seen at the Theatre Royal Plymouth
3
21st Jan 25 :: The Stage Awards 2025
The Stage Awards 2025 winners have been announced.
16th Jan 25 :: Review: The Book of Mormon
Touring production seen at the Theatre Royal Plymouth
5
14th Jan 25 :: Review: Firebird
Seen at the King's Head Theatre
3
22nd Dec 24 :: Review: Operation Mincemeat
Seen at the Fortune Theatre in the West End
5
18th Dec 24 :: Review: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
The Theatre Royal Plymouth's Christmas pantomime.
5
9th Dec 24 :: Review: White Christmas
Seen at The Mill in Sonning
5
8th Dec 24 :: Review: Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake
Seen at the start of its new tour at the Theatre Royal Plymouth
5
6th Dec 24 :: Review: The Last Days of Liz Truss
Seen at The White Bear Theatre, Kennington, London
5
6th Dec 24 :: Review: The Devil Wears Prada
London launch seen at the Dominion Theatre.
5
5th Dec 24 :: Review: A Christmas Carol
Guy Masterson's one-man production seen in Bath and Boscastle
5
4th Dec 24 :: Review: A Very Naughty Christmas
Seen at Southwark Playhouse Elephant.
3
1st Dec 24 :: Review: The Crumple Zone
Seen at the Waterloo East Theatre
4
27th Nov 24 :: Review: War Horse
Touring production seen at the Theatre Royal Plymouth
5
19th Nov 24 :: Review: [title of show]
Showing at the Southwark Playhouse (Borough) until 30 November 2024
4
11th Nov 24 :: Review: A Trio of Tennessee Williams
Seen at The Tobacco Factory Theatre, Bristol
3
30th Oct 24 :: Review: Black is the Color of My Voice
Touring production seen in Worthing
5
29th Oct 24 :: Review: The Creakers
Seen at the Theatre Royal Plymouth prior to London Christmas run.
4
24th Oct 24 :: RTST Sir Peter Hall Director Award Scheme
The winner has been announced

Most Popular Stories

Viewings over the last 14 days
 
If I Had You
Cast workshop presentation seen at St Paul's Church, London.
Posted 28th Jan 25 :: 517 views
Pride and Prejudice* (*Sort Of)
Touring production seen at the Theatre Royal Plymouth
Posted 28th Jan 25 :: 195 views
Jimmy Osmond Guest Stars As 'Teen Angel' In Grease At The Piccadilly Theatre
Making his West End debut, Jimmy Osmond will play ‘Teen Angel’ for a limited season from 19 January to 28 February at The Piccadilly Theatre.
Posted 7th Jan 09 :: 118 views
Girl From The North Country
Touring production seen at the Theatre Royal Plymouth
Posted 2nd Nov 22 :: 74 views
The Book of Mormon
Touring production seen at the Theatre Royal Plymouth
Posted 16th Jan 25 :: 74 views
White Christmas
Seen at The Mill in Sonning
Posted 9th Dec 24 :: 72 views
Firebird
Seen at the King's Head Theatre
Posted 14th Jan 25 :: 72 views
The Stage Awards 2025
The Stage Awards 2025 winners have been announced.
Posted 21st Jan 25 :: 70 views
Operation Mincemeat
Seen at the Fortune Theatre in the West End
Posted 22nd Dec 24 :: 69 views
The Grim
Seen at The Edinburgh Fringe, Underbelly Bristo Square
Posted 19th Aug 24 :: 64 views
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
The Theatre Royal Plymouth's Christmas pantomime.
Posted 18th Dec 24 :: 64 views
Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake
Seen at the start of its new tour at the Theatre Royal Plymouth
Posted 8th Dec 24 :: 61 views
Everybody's Talking About Jamie
Touring production seen at the Theatre Royal Plymouth.
Posted 2nd Apr 24 :: 60 views
The Crumple Zone
Seen at the Waterloo East Theatre
Posted 1st Dec 24 :: 57 views
Gifford's Circus
Circus fun.
Posted 14th Jun 24 :: 55 views
Sylvester Stallone
An Evening With Sylvester Stallone at the London Palladium
Posted 13th Jan 14 :: 55 views
Adam Kay: Undoctored
Seen at the Pleasance Courtyard (EdFringe)
Posted 21st Aug 23 :: 49 views
The Last Days of Liz Truss
Seen at The White Bear Theatre, Kennington, London
Posted 6th Dec 24 :: 49 views
War Horse
Touring production seen at the Theatre Royal Plymouth
Posted 27th Nov 24 :: 45 views
Myra Dubois - Be Well
Seen at Pleasance Dome (EdFringe)
Posted 26th Aug 23 :: 44 views

Ad not shown


BlueSky Mastodon X - Twitter © Dynamic Listing Ltd, UK. 1995-2024